Electrical conductor installation and fastener therefor



y 1951 F. s. SAMPSON 2,551,970

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR INSTALLATION AND FASTENER THEREFOR Filed Feb. 16,1948 IN VEN TOR. 5?:05 mini SAMPSOM guamxoax,

ATTORNE).

Patented May 8, 1951 ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR INSTALLATION AND FASTENERTHEREFOR Frederick S. Sampson, Saugus, Mass, assignor to United-CarrFastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication February 16, 1948, Serial No. 8,573

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to electrical conductor installations andto fasteners for securing electrical conductors to a supporting panel,and aims to provide an improved simplified installation as well as anefficient fastener therefor.

It has been the recent practice of some manufacturers of electricalapparatus, for example of radio sets, to employ bare ribbon-likeconductors which are secured to a face of or sandwiched between thinpanels of insulating material. Such ribbon-like strip conductors areconveniently formed of thin brass strips approximately three sixteenthsof an inch in width and approximately 0.010 inch in thickness. Aplurality of such strip conductors are conveniently secured betweeninsulating panels providing a simple and inexpensive construction whichwill not be sub ject to undue wear or short-circuiting.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a simpleand efficient fastener for use with a slotted insulating panel to holdthe bare insulating strips in proper place thereon while the necessarycircuits and connections are being made.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved andnovel installation and method of assembling conductor strips withinsulating panels.

Other aims and objects of the invention will be apparent to personsskilled in the art to which the invention relates from a considerationof the accompanying drawings, and annexed specification illustrating anddescribing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a fragmentary portion of an insulating panel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the installation astaken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a fastener member for securing a conductorstrip to a panel according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the fastener shown in Figs. 3 and l;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view as taken on the line 65 of Fig. 2, andillustrating the relative position of the fastener legs in the panelslots; and

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are respectively a top plan view, an end elevation anda side elevation of a modified form of fastener embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the electrical conductor of the presentinvention comprises a panel of suitable insulating material, for examplea phenolic condensation product sheet I provided with a plurality ofrows of elongated openings 2, preferably arranged in pairs andconforming generally to the course which the conductor l is to assume onthe panel. The openings 2 are preferably elongated narrow slits and arepreferably arranged in pairs spaced apart a distance substantiallyconforming to the width of the conductor. In some cases the conductors 4may be sandwiched between opposed panels, for example the panel I and asuperimposed panel 5, the latter being either perforate or imperforateas desired.

The conductor 4', is preferably a ribbon-like strip of suitableelectrical conduction metal, for example spring brass, and convenientlymay be approximately three sixteenths (1 s) of an inch in width andapproximately 0.010 inch in thickness. A suitable length of such stripis laid upon the panel I between adjacent rows of openings 2, and may betemporarily held in such position until assembly of the circuits iscompleted, by suitable fastener means bridging the conduct r andengaging the openings 2 of the panel I.

One form of fastener means suitable for the purpose is illustrated inFigs. 3, 4 and 5 and comprises a substantially U-shaped fastener IQ,preferably formed of thin resilient sheet material having a thin fiathead i l of suitable width to extend across to the conductor andangularly eX- tending legs 12 adapted to be engaged in the slits 2. Thehead may be of generally circular shape and the legs l2 which are ofsubstantial width, depend from peripheral edge portions thereof so as topresent arcuate segments, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. The bodyportions of the legs may be connected to the head i i by a neck portionit of less width than the leg, thus forming shoulders I4 at the oppositeupper edges of the legs which are adapted to snap under the oppositeface of of the panel I when a permanent fastening is desired.

The segmental legs i2 are of such width that the segmental depth thereofis greater than the width of the slots 2. Thus when the ends of thefastener legs are inserted in the slots 2 there is three-point contactwith opposite sides of the slot as shown in Fig. 6. Application ofpressure to force the fastener legs I2 into the slots 2 causesflattening of the legs and tensional engagement with opposite sides ofthe slot at the three points of engagement above referred to. As thelegs l2 preferably taper in width toward their free ends, the tensionalengagement is increased as the fastener legs are progressively forcedinto the slots 2.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there is illustrated a slightly modified form offastener in which the arcuate outer face of the legs 12 is shouldered asat 24 to provide a support-engaging lip. According to this form of theinvention the opposite edge portions of the legs 12, particularly in theregion of their maximum width may be provided'with outturned fins 25,which will have a tendency to bite into the panel material at the endsof the slots 2, rather than the sidefiedges of the slots and thus avoidtearing the sides of the slots and undue enlarging of the width thereof.

In installations Where the conductors 4 are to be sandwiched betweenopposed insulatingpanels l and 5, the fasteners may, if desired, beremoved after the assembly of the ,conductors on the panel I and beforethe panel is tobe superimposed thereon. In installations where; theconductors l remain exposed, the fasteners, of course, are preferablynot removed and become permanent fastenings for securing theconductorsto the panel.

Although I have illustrated two preferred forms of the invention, and apreferred manner of constructing the conductor panel I do "not intend tobe restricted to the details thereof as illustrated and described, asthe scope of the inventionis best defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An electrical installation comprising a panel of insulatingmaterial provided with rectangular gaging said strip of conductingmaterial, attaching legs extending angularly from said head, said legsbeing of segmental cross section and'formed of resilient material, saidlegs being deformable toward flattened condition by engagement with athe material at opposite side edges of the respective slots throughwhich they are forced, and said legs having shoulder elements forengagement behind said insulating material.

2. An electrical installation comprising a panel of insulating ,materialprovided with rectangular slots oppositely arranged in pairs, a strip ofconducting material disposed between said slots in abutting relation tosaid insulating material, and a, snap fastener member securing saidstrip of .conducting.1;material to said support, said fastener'beingU-shaped and comprising a head en- .gaginggsaid strip of conductingmaterial, attachinglegslextending;angularly from said head, Said legsbeing of segmental cross section and formed ,of ,resilientmaterial, saidlegs being deformable toward flattened condition by engagement with thematerial at opposite side edges of the respective slots through whichthey are forced, and

each of said legs having a neck portion of reduced width connecting thesame to. said;head providing shoulders adjacent said,neckportionsforengagement behind said insulating material.

FREDERICK S. SAMPSON.

REFERE ES C TE Ehe following references are ,of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

